Vehicle-wheel.



No. 792,199. PATENTED JUNE 13,1905. T. I. GOOHRAN & 0. B. GILMORE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 19, 1903.

3 SHBETSS HEET l.

N0. 792,199. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. T. I. OOOHRAN & O. B. GILMORE. VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.19, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. GILMORE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 19. 1903.

T. I. GOGHRAN & C. B.

3 SHEETS'fSHEET 3.

H H h v lngsfl UNITED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS I. OOOHRAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND CHARLES B. GILMORE, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,199, dated June 13, 1905. Application filed December 19, 1903. Serial No. 185,805.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS I. OOOHRAN, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Alleghen y and State of Pennsylvania, and CHARLES B. GILMORE, a resident of Steubenville, in the county of Jeiferson and State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in vehicle-wheels, which are metallic and which are adapted for automobiles and other vehicles, and which consists of certain novel features of construction which Will be hereinafter described in the specification in conjunction with the drawings and clearly pointed out in the claims.

The main object of the invention is to construct a vehicle-wheel that will be sufficiently strong for the purpose that it is designed and at the same time being symmetrical, neat, and more especially cheap in its construction.

A further object of the invention is to make a wheel that will stand more lateral strain than the wheels in present use and at the same time. to make all parts as light as possible consistent with strength. To accomplish this, I employ tubular spokes-which are oval or ob long in cross-section. This construction gives greater strength to the spokes, and at the same time the amount of material in the spokes is not increased over the circular or round spokes.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the foot of the spokes with a broad and also a narrow slot for the purpose of spreading the spokes through the medium of a wedge when securing the same to a hub.

A further object of the invention is to construct a homogeneous hub of shafting and being bored out for inserting the axle and bearings, and also having an annular groove on said hub for inserting the spokes, and also a smaller annular groove in the bottom of the former groovefor the purpose of centering annular wedges for spreading the spokes.

A further object of the invention is to insert bushings in the rim end of the spokes, which may be plain or flanged, which gives greater stability to the ends of the spokes.

A further object of the invention is to secure the rim of the wheels to the spokes by means of pins entering the bushings. The pins may be either plain, tubular, or screwthreaded, all answering the same purpose except the cost in construction. I

A further object of the invention is to form an annular groove on the exterior surface of the bushings, whereby the metal near the ends of the spokes can be forced into said groove either by compression or by hammer-blows.

A further object of the invention is to have washers or collars enveloping the free end of the spokes at the rim end to prevent said spokes from splitting when the pins are inserted.

A further object of the invention is to make the bushings either integral or in sections, and which may be permanently secured into the spokes or adjustably secured therein.

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a wheel with the hub portion partly broken away to exhibit the ends of the spokes and the means for securing them by annular Wedges. Fig. 2 is adetail exaggerated of a portion of a spoke end and also the rim, both being in section,

exhibiting the means for securing the bushing therein. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the exception of a cap-Washer which enters a portion of the spoke end and the bushing bisected. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 3, exhibiting the oval form of the spoke and also the bisected bushing and indentations for securing the bushing in the spoke end. Fig. 5 is also an exaggerated view of a spoke end in section with the bushing in two parts and permanently secured therein. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of said bushing on line 5 5 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a portion of a wheel with parts broken away to more fully exhibit the details of the invention. .Fig. 8 is a transverse section exaggerated on line 7 7 of Fig. 7, exhibiting the oval or oblong contour of the spoke with a pin securing the same through the bushing and rim pin. Fig.- 9 is an elevation of one of the flanges for securing the spokes, with a portion in section, and also its accompanying hub, illustrating the means for securing the flanges to the hub through the medium of pins. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in perspective of one spoke, broken away, and exhibiting the slots at the heel of the spoke for securing the same between the flanges on the hub. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a spoke broken away, exhibiting the flare of the heel of said spoke. Fig. 12 is a detail of two portions or showing two wedges which are adapted for securing the spokes to the flanges. Fig. 13 is an exaggerated view in section and broken away of a portion of a spoke end and aflanged bushing with its accompanying pin for securing the rim to the spoke. Fig. 14: is a detail of a spoke end with a flanged bushing therein and a portion of a metallic wheel-rim, all secured together by a tubing-pin. Fig. 15 is a detail View of a spoke end, wheel-rim, and the bushing, the rim being secured to said bushing by a screw-threaded pin and a screw in the top of said pin. Fig. 16 is an end view of a modified spoke, exhibiting the circular end of said spoke, which has an oval body. Fig. 17 is an elevation, broken away, of a modified form of spoke, exhibiting the contracted circular end thereof, the other portion, except the heel, being oval in cross-section. Fig. 18 is a detail of a portion of aspoke, rim, and tire, with a pin entering the tubular spoke direct and a key for drawing the parts together and a collar between the key and wheel-rim. 19, 20, and 23 are varied forms of pins for securing the wheel-rim to a circular tubing. Fig. 21 is a similar view to Fig. 19, with the exception of a screw-thread on the securingpin; but the spoke in this case is oval and only a portion of the screw-thread is on the pin. Fig. 22 is a cross-section, enlarged, on line 21 21 of Fig. 21, exhibiting the means for securing a circular pin in an oval spoke end.

In the drawings the letter A indicates a vehicle-wheel, which is more especially adapted for automobiles.

B indicates the hub, which is composed of a homogeneous piece of shafting having the center thereof bored out to receive the axle with its accompanying bearings.

C indicates the oval form of spoke, which is secured to a rim 1) through the medium of a flanged bushing K and a pin L, the parts being secured by a rivet 23. (See Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.) E is the tire, which is of the ordinary construction.

The letter F indicates opposing flanges for securing the spokes in position through the medium of bolts Gr. Said flanges F are secured to the hub B by pins H passing through the seat it of the flanges and also the hub aforesaid. (See Figs. 7 and 9.) The flanges are flared, as indicated at f, so as to hold the spokes C firmly in position in conjunction with an annular groove or recess B, formed There is also another annular groove or recess Z), formed in said hub B for receiving sectional annular wedges I. Said wedges I enter a recess in the hub end of the spokes, and extending from the recess C in the end of the spokes are slots C", and as the annular wedges I enter said recesses O the sides C of the tubular spokes are forced against the opposing sides f of the flanges F, thus securing said spokes firm] y in position. The flare C of the spokes can be more readily observed in Fig. 11, edge View. In Fig. 1, where the flange F is broken away, the sides of the spokes are exposed with a portion in section exhibiting the annular wedges 1 in position in the spoke ends. This construction gives more rigidity to the whole wheel structure and at the same time prevents rattling when the wheel has been used for a considerable length of time.

The elliptical or oval spoke is preferable over the circular tubing-spoke, as the same amount of metal can be employed in both kind of spokes; but the oval tubular spoke will be stifl'er and stand much greater strain. When an automobile is turned quickly around a corner when going at a considerable speed, the strain becomes enormous, but more especially so with any vehicle with a rubber tire, as the rubber will not slip as an ordinary iron tire will. Consequently the rubber tire offers the same resistance to the road-bed as if it was run up against an obstruction, thus imparting all the momentum of the automobile and its load upon the front wheels when turning a corner, thus bringing the thrust upon the wheel-rim, from whence it is transferred to the spoke ends, and if the spoke ends are sufliciently strong to bear the strain it is carried along the oval spokes to the hub end of said spokes, where it is distributed to the hub and its accompanying axle, thus being lost in a partial revolution of a wheel.

It will be observedthat where the ends of the spokes are secured to the rim D a bushing K is employed to give more stiffness to the spoke ends. The bushing can be either flanged, as shown in Figs. 7, 13, 1 and 15, or can be plain bushings without flanges, as shown at K, Figs. 2 and 3; but to prevent said bushings K from being driven down farther in the spokes than the position shown in the drawings an annular groove l) is formed on each bushing K, so as to allow a portion of the oval spokes being forced or driven into said groove 70, as shown at c, which prevents said bushings from slipping from their normal positions, (see Fig. 1,) which illustrates this method of securing the bushings. Said figure also represents the bushing K as being bisectcd, which gives a greater binding force on the walls of the tubular spokes; but to prevent splitting said spokes when a split or bisected bushing is employed a flanged cap K envelops the outside of the rim end of the in the hub B.

spokes and also extends a short distance into the mouth of the tubing. By this means a much stronger wheel is formed and makes the parts equally as strong as an integral spoke end.

In Fig. 14 a tubular pin is employed for securing the rim to the spoke end through the medium of a flanged bushing. The pin L can be upset after it is inserted in the wheelrim or it can be made with its flanged head before being inserted into the spoke ends; but it is preferable to upset the head of the tubular pin L after it is inserted in the spoke end, as the bottom of the hole in the bushing K supports said tubular pin and receives the thrust that ensues when upsetting the tubular pin. By this means a much more rigid connection is made, as the parts are firmly drawn together.

In Fig. 15 a screw-threaded pin is used for securing the rim of the wheel to the spoke ends through the medium of the bushing K but to prevent said pin L from working loose the pin has been split a short distance, and a tapering screw Zhas been inserted in said pin for spreading the head of the same, thus preventing the screw-pin from working loose.

In Figs. 18, 19, 20, and 23 collars or flanged washers are employed to prevent the tubular spokes from becoming split as the pins L or L are secured therein. In Figs. 18 and 23 collars N and O are employed, which are either driven or screwed on the ends of the spokes. In Figs. 19 and 20 flanged washers if are employed. In Fig. 21 and also in Fig. 22 the oval tubular spoke is shown only partially screw-tln-eaded, as this is sufliciently strong for light vehicle-wheels.

In Figs. 16 and 17 a modified form of oval tubular spoke is shown. This spoke has its rim end at G upset or swaged into a circular form, which can be utilized to advantage in many cases.

\Vhen assembling the vehicle-wheel, the spokes are laid loosely on one of the flanges F, with their lowermost ends about parallel with the edge of the annular wedges I, after which the opposing flange is put on the hub B. Said flange is forced tightly against the spokes either by screw-pressure or hydraulic force when the pins H are inserted in position, when the spokes are driven down until they are firmly seated against the bottom of the annular groove B, formed in the hub B. As the spokes are being forced down in the aforesaid groove B the annular wedges I spread said spokes as the walls of the recesses or opening C impinge on the inclined sides of said wedges I. The opposite ends of the spokes are ground off by an emery-wheel as the wheel is slowly revolved on a center pin in the hub of the wheel, after which the bushings are inserted when the pins secure the wheel in position, thus making a strong, symmetrical, and durable vehicle-wheel.

It is obvious from the construction of my vehicle-hub that spokes other than tubular could be secured therein-for instance, wooden or tubular spokes having a solid heel or end.

The key P in Fig. 18 is designed to draw the pin L down for securing the rim D against the spoke ends.

Having described our invention, that which we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is-- 1. In combination with a hub which is recessed, forming part of a vehicle-wheel, oval tubular spokes, said spokes being rectangular in cross-section at their hub ends, and provided with recesses formed on the opposite sides of said spokes, slots formed'and extending upward from said recesses for allowing said spokes to spread out at their hub ends when wedges enter said recesses, of a wheelrim supported by said spokes, and the means for securing said wheel-rim to said spokes for the purpose as shown.

2. .A vehicle-wheel having a hub formed of shafting, an annular groove formed in the external periphery of said hub for the reception ofjspoke ends, said spoke ends being recessed and slotted upwardly from said recesses, arc-shaped wedges adapted to enter said recesses for spreading said spoke ends, in combination with a wheel-rim secured to said spokes through the means as shown.

3. A vehicle or automobile wheel having a hub formed of shafting, a hole centrally bored through said shafting, a groove or recess 'formedon the external periphery of said hub for the reception of spoke ends, a smaller groove formed on the aforementioned groove in combination with arc-shaped wedges for spreading said spoke ends through the medium of the recesses formed on the opposite sides of said spoke ends, and the means for securing a wheel-rim to the extreme free ends of the spokes as specified.

4:. A vehicle wheel for automobiles provided with a hub having a groove or recess on the external periphery thereof, a smaller groove formed on the aforementioned groove, the latter groove being adapted to hold in position sectional arc-shaped wedges,said wedges entering recesses formed in the rectangular ends of spoke ends, for spreading said spoke ends in combination with removable flanges secured to said hub by bolts tangential to the external periphery of said hub, and a wheelrim secured to the free ends of said spokes by the means as shown.

5. A vehicle-wheel provided with a hub and oval spokes, said hub having a groove on the periphery thereof, for the reception of said spokes, and a smaller groove formed in the bottom of the aforementioned groove, the latter groove for the reception of arc-shaped wedges for spreading the rectangular ends of spoke ends in combination with'a wheel-rim having flanged bushings engaging the internal periphery of said wheel-rim as shown.

6. A vehicle-wheel provided with a hub and oval spokes, said hub having a groove on the periphery thereof, for the reception of said spokes, and a smaller groove formed in the bottom of the aforementioned groove, the latter groove for the reception of arc-shaped wedges for spreading the rectangular ends of said spokes in combination with-a wheel-rim having flanged bushings engaging the internal periphery of said rim and pins or bolts passing through said wheel-rim into said bushings for securing said wheel-rim for the purpose as specified.

7. A vehicle-wheel provided with a hub and oval spokes, said hub having a groove on the periphery thereof for the reception of spoke ends, and asmaller groove formed in the aforementioned groove, the latter groove for the reception of arc-shaped wedges for spreading the rectangular ends of said spokes in combination with a wheel-rim having flanged bushings engaging the internal periphery of said wheel-rim and pins or bolts which are screwthreaded for securing said rim to said bushings and spokes as specified.

8. A vehiclewheel provided with a hub and tubular spokes, said hub having a groove or recess on the periphery thereof, for the reception of said spokes, and a smaller groove in the bottom of the aforementioned groove, the latter groove for the reception of sectional arc-shaped wedges for spreading the rectan- 1 gular ends of said spokes in combination with a wheel-rim having flanged bushings engaging the internal periphery of said rim and pins or bolts which are provided with tapering screws entering the flanged head of said pins or bolts for spreading said pins or bolts through the medium of slots formed in said pins or bolts as shown.

9. A vehicle-wheel provided with a hub and oval tubular spokes, said hub having a groove on the periphery thereof for the reception of said spokes, and a smaller groove formed in the bottom of the aforesaid groove, the latter groove for the reception of arc-shaped wedges for spreading the rectangular ends of the spokes in combination with a wheel-rim having bushings engaging said wheel-rim, said bushings having a groove on the external periphery thereof for forcing the metal of the spokes into said groove and the means for securing a wheel-rim to said bushings for the purpose as specified.

10. An automobile-wheel provided with a hub and tubular spokes, flanged bushings which are adapted to lit the rim ends of said spokes in combination with tubular pins pass- 

